Celebrating A "She-ro"

    

Today is National Heroes' Day in Barbados - and here I am attending meetings in Switzerland. This means my welcome today is not from a bright and sunny Barbados. Still, I thank everyone who visited the page from the United States of America, Barbados, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and Sweden. 

I am taking longer to update "Keeping Buzzy" as I do not find the time to do so now. I am grateful to the faithful who check in on occasion to see what's new - and it's usually not anything at all. 

Now, back to the topic. This is not my first post celebrating Barbados' National Heroes.  It will however reveal my acting debut!  

                                                 Damsels bedecked in historical costume

The Right Excellent Sarah Ann Gill was not only a National Hero of Barbados; she was also a Hero for Methodism in Barbados and for the right to religious freedom in the British colonies of the 19th century.

The story of Sarah Ann Gill takes place 200 years ago, when she stood up to the local planter class that wanted to curb religious belief systems promoting the concept of equality of mankind - the Methodists were thought to be filling African slaves with notions of freedom from slavery and were felt to be sympathizers of the Abolition movement. At the time, African slaves were chattel (property) and were treated as such - made to work the land; they were not educated; marriage was not encouraged as the strong were needed to procreate to increase the labouring population. So the planter class chased off Rev. Shrewsbury, the Methodist Minister of the day, with his very pregnant wife.

                               The Shrewsburys fled the machinations of the planter class in Barbados around 1824

With this void in the Methodist leadership, Sarah Ann Gill, a free woman of colour, stepped in and kept cottage meetings - to keep the faith alive. I'll say no more here. You can view the link to the Aldersgate Service for 2022, at which the film debuted. The Heather Headley production begins at 43:21. I enjoyed the service that preceded the viewing so I'm not discouraging anyone from watching the full 2 hours of it. May you be richly blessed.

                                   

                                            Male cast members in their historical costumes

And on the topic of film in Barbados. I pause to pay tribute to the singer of the theme song, Island In the Sun, which was filmed in Barbados in 1957.  The singer and actor in the same film, Harry Belafonte, died on April 25, 2023, age 96. May he rest in peace. 

                              Harry Belafonte and Joan Fontaine in a scene from Island In the Sun

So many of the entertainers I admired growing up are passing on. A sign of life. 

Until next time.

Peace.

Queens of Hearts

 Best wishes to everyone who visited the page, contributing to more than 4,200 visits.👋 

Thank you.🙏

Best wishes to all for 2023. 

The year did not begin very brightly for Barbados' entertainment industry as we lost our First Lady of Song, Carolyn Leacock. A well-attended, moving tribute was held for her at month-end. You can follow the link to hear her award-winning rendition sung with her brother, James, at one of the Caribbean Song Festivals in the 1990s. Barbados has an outstanding singing tradition    

                                              Barbados' First Lady of Song, Carolyn Leacock

In January, another moving tribute was given for Singing Francine - mentioned in the December blog. This is the link to one of my fave renditions by her - Run Away, a song about escaping spousal abuse.

                                           Francine "Singing Francine" Edwards

While January wasn't that bright, the month of February began on a more optimistic note with us all looking forward to Rihanna's half-time show at this year's Super Bowl. I was preoccupied watching Outlander and didn't see the live performance; i watched the edited version the next day. I thought she did a good job. I enjoyed the suspended stages and the pyrotechnics. 👍 You can click on the link to view it all again

                                 The incomparable Right Excellent Robyn Rihanna Fenty

With her global announcement of a second pregnancy. as the close of February (her birth month) fast approaches, I salute her and her growing family. She had a dream and she lived it. More power to this stunning and talented Bajan gal.

Cheers.  

As Chapters Close, Others Open

Greetings to all who visited the blog over the last month. My posts are now infrequent. Between preparing lunch on Sundays, preparing for the next week on Saturdays, watching kdramas in my spare time... I don't get on the blog very much.

Of course, I'm quite disappointed that so few people visited the page featuring young Barbadian athletes. 😞 Kudos to them all. 

To those who visited the page from the USA, Barbados, Canada, Germany and Greece. Special greetings to you.

I always enjoy the Christmas season - the music, the music...did I say the music? It is stressful for some, but it's the one month when I'm not bothered by whatever challenges arise. December is my birth month and this year I treated myself to this... 

it was as lovely to taste as it was to look at. 

Even as I celebrated, others were coming to the end of their line. We lost some persons who were outstanding in their fields. The month began with the passing of Irene Cara, actress, singer, dancer, whose breakout performance was in the movie Fame, 40 years ago. 

 Viewing the video still makes me smile broadly.

Then in the Caribbean we heard the news of the passing of Singing Francine, whose parang Christmas songs I love to hear during the season. She is Barbados-born but went to Trinidad as a teenager and became an exponent of the calypso artform winning the Calypso Queen title in that island. I featured one of those parang songs in 2018.

And then the month ends with the news of the passing of the legendary Brazilian footballer, Pele. Around the same time there was the news of the death of another outstanding calypsonian in Trinidad, Black Stalin (stage name). One of my fave calypsos by him is "Bun Dem". Listen here.

Trinidadian Calysonian, Black Stalin

Brazilian Football Legend, Pele

And then the month ends with the news of the passing of pioneering female news anchor, Barbara Walters, and Pope Benedict.

                                        Pioneering Newswoman, Barbara Walters

                                                    Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Just as some chapters closed in 2022, there will be new beginnings for others in 2023.

Here's to a fulfilling New Year! 🍷

Saluting Young Champions 🏅

Greetings as usual to my readers from all parts of the globe - Barbados, Canada, Ireland, Nigeria, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam. If I had to invite you to Barbados, we would look like a United Nations meeting! Blessings to all 🙏🏽.

Today I'm saluting this nation's sporting champions. 

Since July 28, 2022, when the Commonwealth Games began, it marked the commencement of eight weeks of success for Barbadians in different disciplines - and different meets as well.

I begin by toasting one of our golden girls. Track athlete Sada Williams, who trains in Jamaica, won the Commonwealth Games 400 metres in a Championship record of 49.90 seconds. You can click the link to see her golden run.  Look at her, hardly breaking a sweat as we say in Barbados. That means she was very cool about it. 

                 Sada Williams on her way to the finish line at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Another Barbadian female was also in winning form - at another meet and in the discipline of cycling.  She is Amber Joseph who in mid-August won a gold and 2 silver medals at the Pan-American Track Cycling Championships in Peru. 

                                                   Barbadian Female Cyclist: Amber Joseph

Zane Maloney, still a teenager, has been making his mark on the FIA Formula 3 Circuit. He ended his season on three consecutive wins after some issues in earlier rounds to end the tournament in 2nd place overall.  Keep flying the flag for the 246 Zane. 

                            Zane Maloney, a young Barbadian on FIA Formula 3 Circuit.  

Now to some guys who have found their winning ways since the Hero CPL 2022 began on August 30, 2022.  It is a complete turnaround for them as they were at the bottom of the points standings last year.  In the previous year they were 5/6.  Not encouraging. So I wasn't following. Still, I kept hearing the news clips and they won game after game after game.  At the time of writing, they had played 9 games and won all 9.  So, props to them. 👏🏽 

Of course, they have one more game and then the qualifiers. So it does not mean they will end up champs. Still after the last 2 years, a top 4 finish is creditable.  To emerge the overall winner would be the icing on the cake. Good luck to them.

                                        The Barbados Royals 2022 T20 Squad
 

I finish with the song Champion by Trinity Clarke - herself an international champion, having once won gold and silver awards at the World Championships of Performing Arts. Click to view a behind the scenes video as she sings. .

Cheers to Barbados' sporting Champions. 🥂

Until next time...

2022 Crop Over Music Is Sweetness Galore 🎶

Greetings to those who visited the pages from Barbados, Canada, Greece, Germany, Jamaica, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, USA, United Kingdom and Vietnam 😎

This is the most festive weekend in Barbados. It is the climax of our annual summer festival, Crop Over. 🎼🌞

There will be parties or shows all weekend long. Tonight is the finals of the calypso competition. On Monday, costumed revellers parade on one of the highways. Follow the links for scenes from 2019. It has been two long years since they got to enjoy the sun, the music, the drinks and sometimes even the rain. 

Perhaps being housebound for much of 2 years allowed the creative juices to flow for the calypsonians this year. The music is lyrical, melodious, unbelievable good.

I will begin on a light note. This one is by the Road March grandmaster, the Mighty Grynner. When I first heard it a couple of months ago, I wondered where they found it in the archives. It sounded so much like the Grynner of 35 years ago. That is an awesome thing. He won three successive road march titles on two occasions - 1983-85 and 1988, 1989, 1990. The melody of Grynner Behind Her is sweetness can't done. 

                The Mighty Grynner - Barbados' Tune-O-De-Crop (Road March) Grandmaster 

I would not be surprised if a woman wins this year's Calypso title. TC is ever consistent. This year she is the Kaiso Reporter.

        According to Terencia (T.C.) Coward-Thompson she "is an advocate for the nation" this year 

I'm always impressed by Chrystle Cummins-Beckles Holder, who has never won the local calypso title but is a repeat regional calypso queen. This year she is singing about all those things that drive her Crazy. Fantastic arrangement. 👍👍

  Chrystle Beckles-Holder has one of the most melodious arrangements of the 2022 Crop Over season

The reigning calypso monarch is William "Classic" Waithe. He has another witty and catchy socio-political commentary, Duh Get In which means "They Get In". It's simply classic. 

                                                            This is a Classic performance

I would love to feature Mr. Blood, who also has an excellent kaiso and is a performer. Perhaps the two year drought of new calypsos made us hungrier for what is on offer this year. To me, this is possibly the best set of final's tunes I've heard in more than 30 years of following Barbados' calypso finals. 

Still, I am saving my final spot for one of my fave local artistes, John  Yarde, who is a newcomer to the competition. He's remembering all those who have passed with a rendition that will live past the season. It is one of the first songs of the season to catch my attention and live in my memory. He's performing too early to win, in my opinion. Yet, I wish him and all of them good luck. It is such a fabulous pic-o-de-crop. 👍👍

                                  This is a rather suave image of Pastor John Yarde

'Til next time.🎆🎵🎺

A Woman Of Influence

It's been a couple of months since my last post, as usual I greet those who took the time to visit the pages since then. Hello to you who visited from Belgium, Barbados, Canada, Cayman Islands, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Jamaica, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and USA.👋  

I'm leaning on my feminist inclinations for another consecutive entry. The title speaks for itself.  It is no secret that the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley was selected as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People.

So, I will feature some recent clips of comments on her fave subjects - the climate crisis, global inequity and being one of the 100 Most Influential People on this planet. 

Prime Minister Hon. Mia Mottley - One of Time's 100 Most Influential People for 2022

She is described as "fearless", "speaking truth to power" on subjects such as "climate justice", global inequity, the vulnerabilities of small island developing states to name but a few.  

 

                                    Prime Minister of Barbados: The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley

Barbados is on the frontline of the negative effects of climate change - in the path of unpredictably stronger hurricanes, rising sea levels - thankfully the heat is not as unbearable as it is sometimes in Europe.  When the Prime Minister champions the cause of the need to act swiftly to effect the changes needed to promote climate change, she is speaking from experience.  

                         Barbados' Prime Minister - Championing climate justice and global equity

So, which musical selection to conclude a piece on this influential person? Having once managed a local band and with the Ministry of Culture within her portfolio, a selection from this year's Crop Over season should hit the spot. Listen to Nikita's infectious "Superwoman".

Barbadian Singer, Nikita

Don't ease up! 💥🎹🎷🎶🎧🎺🎸🎼

'Til next time.🎵

.

She Made A Difference

Greetings to my loyal readers. (I am so tempted to write: Dear Reader a la Lady Whistledown. 😉) The time is flying by. Between my responsibilities at work while acting in a higher position, being distracted by Bridgerton Season 2 🔥 and having 2 elderly dependents, I hardly have time to post. 

I am sorry to disappoint the "regulars". Whoever you are, I love you for your faithfulness to Keeping Buzzy.😍

Today is National Heroes Day in Barbados - and I spent my morning in online work-related meetings. Yes. 😫 It's a challenging time. To the Barbadian readers, a very Happy National Heroes Day to you.

In Barbados, the national heroes are being celebrated in song and with informative clips on their contribution to building this nation. I've featured some before with interesting dramatizations produced by the Barbados Government Information Service. If you've not visited that page, please do. I hope you will enjoy them.

Today, the Government of Barbados recognised healthcare workers for their tireless contribution to the local fight against COVID-19 over the last 2 years. My hero tribute today goes to Dr. Bronwen Glasford, who successfully treated my grandmother through a recent health crisis. My grandmother has since turned 99 years old. I have to thank everyone who also upheld her in prayer. It could've gone very differently; that is why I am thankful to Dr. Glasford. 🙏 

I don't know if my gran will live to see her 100th birthday as she became increasingly frail over the last 2 years. So, I'm sparing some thought for her today. She has battled long and hard in life and is to this day a survivor - especially since my mother and I both survived COVID-19 and were in home isolation where she lives with us. All 3 of us had a cough the same weekend. I knew to get them tested, I would need to get tested. I was positive. Then, my Mom was tested some days later. She was positive. Gran squirmed and knocked away the health worker's hand so I said not to do the test. The assumption is she would've been positive too. But we'll never know. 

As soon as my mother and I were discharged, a pre-existing problem became exacerbated and that was my Gran's health crisis. See why I have to be thankful? I know it's the grace and mercy of the Almighty that has kept her - well the 3 of us. So, I invite you to listen to this rendition of Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) by the lovely country singer, Reba McEntire. I originally had the Pentatonix version, but I had a change of heart and opted to feature a female. 

"My chains are gone, I've been set free,/My God, my Saviour has ransomed me/And like a flood His Mercy rains/Unending love, Amazing grace."

I know there are a lot of unbelievers in the world, but I can testify of healing and the power of prayer. I did not intend to preach today. That's how it goes sometimes. 

On that note, I'll leave you with this tribute to Barbados' first female National Hero, the Right Excellent Sarah Ann Gill, performed by another of my favourite entertainers, Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah. You can follow the link to hear the song. ☝ 

An artist's depiction of Barbados' fighter for religious freedom, the Rt. Excellent Sarah Ann Gill

I recently observed that of all of Barbados' National Heroes, it is the women, the Right Excellent Sarah Ann Gill and the Right Excellent Robyn Rihanna Fenty who've had a far-reaching international impact. The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers' cricketing exploits made him the most celebrated Barbadian known internationally - until Rihanna came on the scene. I don't need to recap her humanitarian work, business savvy or success as an entertainer. Follow the links for previous posts on her talents. While Sarah's petitions to the British Parliament (Barbados was a British colony from the 17th century until independence in 1966) resulted in the passage, in 1825, of legislation against religious persecution across all of the colonies. 

Until next time...

Shalom 🙏